Plug-tobacco machine



(No Model.)

G. WILDEY 8u A. ROLLINS.

FLUG TOBACCO MACHINE No. 313,903. L Patented Mar. 1'7, 1885.

lio

"Tr-Ton.

GEORGE VILDEY AND ALPHEUS ROLLINS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PLUG-TOBACCO MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,903, dated March 17, 1885. Appui-.anun fnl-, 3 April e, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE WrLnnY and ALPHEUS ROLLINS, both of Brooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Tobacco Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The machine at a single operation compresses a considerable area of the properly-prepared loose tobacco, giving it the requisite density and adhesion, and divides it into a number of lumps of the proper form and dimensions ready to receive the wrappers, and be subjected to the subsequent treatment to produce finished plu g-tobacco. XVe effect the compression by plane-faced pieces of metal mounted movably between a series of parallel knives. The whole are mounted on the cross-head or plunger of astrong press which may be worked by steam or other convenient power. When a given quantity of material has been compressed and divided7 the adhesion of the knives is overcome by a device which moves the pressers downward independently of the knives7 thus effectually removing the lumps. The several pressing -pieces may be again raised before another operation of the press, or the pressers may be left down and be forced home between the knives by their pressure on the tobacco as the cross-head descends. The following is a description of what we consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a front elevation showing the novel parts and also the principal parts of the press on which they are carried. The succeeding figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a vertical section corresponding to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is the fixed frame-work of the press, certain parts being designated,when necessary, by additional marks, as A A.

B is a rotating shaft,driven by gearing from some power, (not shown,) and carrying eccentrics B B', which, by means of eccentric straps C and rods C, connect with a cross-head, D', carrying a plunger, D. The latter carries a series of thin knives, d, (see Fig. 2,) which are iirml y keyed at uniform distances apart in the lower face of theplunger, and are sharpcned at their lower edges.

E E, Src., are a series of pressers, each plane on the lower face, and of dimensions just sufficient to moveeasily up and down between the knives. Each presser receives a screwbolt, e, which is mounted loosely in holes in the plunger, and is subject to be forced downward by a cross-bar, G, which is mounted in a cavity in the plunger D, and moves upward and downward therein as it is actuated by the pressure of the tobacco below and by an eccentric, H, mounted on an axis, h, carried in the cross-head, and turned at will by means of a hand-lever, H. The cross-head may be of any shape desired, 'with any suitable means for guiding it, but the plunger should be rectangular. The press bed on which the tobacco is subjected to this treatment is marked A. It may be made of lignumvitae or other iirm wood placed with the end of the grain upward.

The preparedtobacco mis introduced loosely by hand or otherwise, forming a thick and tolerably uniform layer partially filling the box. The descent of the plunger D may be initiated by a movement of a treadle or other convenient part, as in the manner of punching-presses and various other presses. While the plunger is descending upon a mass of tobacco in the box of the press, the eccentric H is in the elevated position shown in Fig. land in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. After it has descended and compressed and divided the tobacco,and has risen again to or near its highest point, the attendant grasps the hand-lever H', which had been previously held by a springcatch, I, and turns it downward into the position shown in strong lines in Figs. 2 and 3. This movement depresses the movable piece G, the several screw-bolts c, and the pressers E forcing them downward until their lower faces are even with or a little below the cuttingedges of the knives. This movement forces out the compressed lumps of tobacco. The hand-lever H is again raised and secured by the catch I in the raised position, which leaves the pressers E free to rise. the press is opened, the lumps are removed, and after introducing a uniformly-thick layer Now, the box of roo of the properly-prepared tobacco (the quantity being exactly determined by weight) and again closing the box the operation may be repeated, the mechanism of the press being operated to force downward the plunger D and its attachments, again dividing and compressing the tobacco into a series of uniform lumps, which are again forced out from between the knives after the plunger is elevated, and so on indefinitely. By this treatment the tobacco is at a single operation reduced to uniformlycompre'ssed lumps, with the proper horizontal stratification due to the uniform compression in one direction without'appreciablepressure from the sides or ends, and reduced to the proper form and dimensions, and left completely separated, ready for wrapping, casing, compression in the finishing-pots, &c., like other plug-tobacco.

Parts ofthe invention may be used without the whole.

The catch for supporting the hand-lever H may be omitted, and the eccentric H held in the elevated position by the force of a spring or the gravity of a loaded arm or other convenient means.

Other means of applying a sufficient force maybe employed in place of the eccentric H to operate the pressers E E.

The knives d may be placed any distance apart, according to the breadth of the plugs desired.

Instead of the plugs extending continuously across the plunger, there may be one or more transverse knives cutting the tobacco into two or more lengths. l

Any other suitable means may be employed for firmly holding the knives.

Ve claim as our invention- 1. Aplug-tobacco machinehaving the pressbed A', the knives d, and means,.as described, for operating them, the pressers E, eccentric H, and hand-lever H, all combined and arranged for `joint operation as and for the purposes set forth. c

2. Theplugtobacco machine described,hav ing the press-bed A,A adapted to receive the stroke of the knives d, in combination with such knives and means for operating them, and with the pressers E, eccentric H, handlever H, and supporting-catch I, combined and arranged for joint operation substantially f as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, at Brooklym-New York, this 31st day of March, 1884, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WILDEY. ALPHEUS ROLLINS. 

